The promoter Barry Hearn yesterday denied that Michael Brodie could line up against Naseem Hamed if the Manchester fighter wins his World Boxing Council featherweight title fight against Korea's Injin Chi at the city's MEN Arena on Saturday night.

Hamed has not fought for almost two years but was reported to have said he was ready to go back into training in May with a view to returning to the ring this summer.

Hearn, who has also promoted Hamed, said: "I have not heard a word from Naz for three months and he has said nothing about this.

"If he is serious about coming back, he is going to have to lose a lot of weight, because I am told he was walking around at about 12st. It is one thing getting down to 9st but another altogether to be strong at that weight.

"If he wants to fight again, and take on Brodie, he will have to join the queue. If Michael beats Chi, I have already had talks with the MGM Grand in Las Vegas and HBO about the possibilities of matching Brodie with Marco Antonio Barrera. That would be the biggest fight out there for Michael.

"It would be fantastic if Brodie beat Chi and I give him a real chance of going one better than Hamed and beating Barrera, because he is better all round, pound for pound, than Naz. He has more lateral movement, combination and boxing ability. In a lot of ways he is a throwback."

Brodie's contest with Chi is the rematch of their first fight at the same venue in October, a controversial draw regarded as Britain's fight of the year.

The bookmakers make Chi the 8-11 favourite but Brodie is not far behind at 11-10 and Hearn added: "This is the sort of even-money fight that boxing needs. The sport doesn't need 25-1 on shots like Ricky Hatton when he fought Dennis Pedersen last week. This is a real fight for a real title with a real opponent."

Brodie describes himself as being fitter than at any stage in his career, adding: "This is the biggest night of my life. If I won this, the feeling would be like Manchester United winning the treble. I want to bring the belt back home for my two kids.

"Hopefully, I can just outbox him but I know the fight is likely to go the distance. And, if it turns out to be another war, I am ready to do what it takes. I believe this time I will become a proper world champion."